'Fast and Furious 7' will be released a week earlier

Fast and Furious 7 has sped up to a new release date. Instead of opening on April 10, 2015, it will now open a week earlier, on April 3.

Image courtesy of INFphoto.com

Variety reported that filming wrapped earlier this week, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also confirming on his Instagram that he had finished shooting.

The highly-anticipated sequel was set to come out this summer but Paul Walker’s untimely passing in November of last year caused shooting to be delayed. TheWrap notes that Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, stepped in to help finish filming by working as stand-ins. Walker’s character, Brian O’Connor, will be retired after this upcoming film.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Fast and Furious 7 wasn’t slated to face any competition on April 10. Now, the film will be going head to head with the latest churned out Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Longest Ride.

Starring alongside Johnson and the late Walker are returning cast members Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson. Newcomers to the cast include Jason Statham and Kurt Russell. James Wan took over directing duties from Justin Lin, who directed the last four installments of the franchise.